End of life care (sometimes referred to as palliative care) helps anyone with an incurable illness to live as well as possible until they die. It also provides support for the family.
Who can help?
End of life care is provided by a range of health professionals including hospital doctors and nurses, district nurses and GPs. This can also include social workers, councillors or religious ministers.
Care can start at any time from the point of diagnosis and last for years or days before the person dies. It can be carried out in a hospital, a care home, hospice or at home.
What can I expect?
Most hospitals have specialist palliative care teams who co-ordinate services with other health or community care staff.
The help they provide includes:
controlling the patient’s symptoms (which may include pain relief);
organising counselling if the patient is very anxious;
helping the patient and family to organise a will;
helping the patient sort out any financial difficulties; and
discussing practical issues with the patient (e.g. being cared for at home or where they would prefer to die).
Who do I contact?
If you or a member of your family has been given a terminal diagnosis and would like the support of a palliative care team, contact your GP or your hospital medical team who can refer you.
For more information, you can also visit the NHS National End of Life Care Programme website under 'External links'.